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Windows 10 “WiFi Sense” automatically leaks your wifi password to strangers

news.ycombinator.com

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Windows 10 “WiFi Sense” automatically leaks your wifi password to strangers

#1

Post by hayksaakian »

Even if you personally disable it on your own computer, anyone else connecting to your network (example: non-technical friend) will leak your password to all of _their_ facebook friends.

The only way to opt out of this "feature" is to change the name of your SSID to include _optout at the end -- or force EVERY SINGLE PERSON connecting to your network to disable the feature on their PC before connecting.

There is no other way to opt out.

https://www.windowsphone.com/en-gb/how-to/wp8/connectivity/use-wi-fi-sense-to-get-connected

https://www.windowsphone.com/en-gb/how-to/wp8/connectivity/how-do-i-opt-my-network-out-of-wi-fi-sense

https://www.windowsphone.com/en-gb/how-to/wp8/connectivity/wi-fi-sense-faq

http://www.howtogeek.com/219700/what-is-wi-fi-sense-and-why-does-it-want-your-facebook-account/

Re: Windows 10 “WiFi Sense” automatically leaks your wifi password to strangers

#2

Post by Zekio »

you have to select whether you want to share your WiFi with your contacts upon first time connecting there is a Check box which is by default unchecked.

Edit1: Also, previous connections are by default not shared automatically either, you have to go to manage known networks and select them and press share before it gets shared.

Edit2: If people connect through your shared network, then it shouldn't allow their friends to connect as well. (To my knowledge of this)

Re: Windows 10 “WiFi Sense” automatically leaks your wifi password to strangers

#3

Post by fdahgrthkn »

Zekio wrote: post #2

you have to select whether you want to share your WiFi with your contacts upon first time connecting there is a Check box which is by default unchecked. Edit1: Also, previous connections are by default not shared automatically either, you have to go to manage known networks and select them and press share before it gets shared. Edit2: If people connect through your shared network, then it shouldn't allow their friend…

That's true but kind of misses the point. I'm not worried about my machine using this. Hell, I don't even use Windows. I'm worried about the zillions of people who do use Windows and who will thoughtlessly enable this because it seems convenient. They will wreck the security of other people who have done nothing wrong.

Re: Windows 10 “WiFi Sense” automatically leaks your wifi password to strangers

#4

Post by Zekio »

fdahgrthkn wrote: post #3
Zekio wrote: post #2

you have to select whether you want to share your WiFi with your contacts upon first time connecting there is a Check box which is by default unchecked. Edit1: Also, previous connections are by default not shared automatically either, you have to go to manage known networks and select them and press share before it gets shared. Edit2: If people connect through your shared network, then it shouldn't allow their friend…

That's true but kind of misses the point. I'm not worried about my machine using this. Hell, I don't even use Windows. I'm worried about the zillions of people who do use Windows and who will thoughtlessly enable this because it seems convenient. They will wreck the security of other people who have done nothing wrong.

They will only wreck security, because you personally gave them the password, instead of using this system from the start, change your password upon windows 10 release and you are golden? :)

Edit1: tho i can see the downsides of this, add you neighbor on Facebook and get free access to their WiFi xD

Edit2: You can select whether, you want to share network with Outlook, Skype and Facebook friends, so what i wrote in Edit1 could be invalid if you simply uncheck Facebook.

Re: Windows 10 “WiFi Sense” automatically leaks your wifi password to strangers

#6

Post by fdahgrthkn »

Zekio wrote: post #4
fdahgrthkn wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's true but kind of misses the point. I'm not worried about my machine using this. Hell, I don't even use Windows. I'm worried about the zillions of people who do use Windows and who will thoughtlessly enable this because it seems convenient. They will wreck the security of other people who have done nothing wrong.

They will only wreck security, because you personally gave them the password, instead of using this system from the start, change your password upon windows 10 release and you are golden? :) Edit1: tho i can see the downsides of this, add you neighbor on Facebook and get free access to their WiFi xD Edit2: You can select whether, you want to share network with Outlook, Skype and Facebook friends, so what i wrote in E…

"using this system from the start"

I don't use Windows, so I cannot use this system at all.

"add you neighbor on Facebook and get free access to their WiFi"

That's missing the much bigger downside. Give your neighbor your Wi-Fi password and they can share it with hundreds of their friends automatically.

Microsoft claims users will not be able to find the password and that users will only be able to access the Internet, but that assumes there are no security holes. I'm not comfortable putting my network security in the hands of a company I did not choose to associate with.

Re: Windows 10 “WiFi Sense” automatically leaks your wifi password to strangers

#9

Post by fdahgrthkn »

[deleted] wrote: post #7

[deleted]

I don't believe it can go multiple "hops." If you connect it goes to your friends, but it does not go to friends of your friends.

If your friends connect to the network using Wi-Fi Sense, it might spread to their friends. I'm not sure.

Re: Windows 10 “WiFi Sense” automatically leaks your wifi password to strangers

#10

Post by Zekio »

fdahgrthkn wrote: post #6
Zekio wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They will only wreck security, because you personally gave them the password, instead of using this system from the start, change your password upon windows 10 release and you are golden? :) Edit1: tho i can see the downsides of this, add you neighbor on Facebook and get free access to their WiFi xD Edit2: You can select whether, you want to share network with Outlook, Skype and Facebook friends, so what i wrote in E…

"using this system from the start" I don't use Windows, so I cannot use this system at all. "add you neighbor on Facebook and get free access to their WiFi" That's missing the much bigger downside. Give your neighbor your Wi-Fi password and they can share it with hundreds of their friends automatically. Microsoft claims users will not be able to find the password and that users will only be able to access the Interne…

Router companies should get together with Microsoft and make some kind of Flag you can tick, so your router actively tells you can't share this, without the ridicules name of "_optout" as last part :)
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